Guston Court Wedding Venue

Just outside the historic town of Sandwich, tucked into the Kent countryside, sits Guston Court, a proper 16th century country house with three acres of grounds to play with. It’s a venue I’ve had the pleasure of photographing at, and it’s one of those places that gives you a bit of everything: history, space, and that lovely relaxed, “this is our home for the weekend” feel.

Here’s a bit about the venue, and why it’s such a great choice if you’re planning your Kent wedding.

A Slice of Tudor History

Guston Court dates all the way back to the 16th century, which means the walls have seen a fair few centuries of Kent life come and go before they ever saw a wedding. It’s got that proper country house character, log burning stoves in both reception rooms, traditional features throughout, and a genuine sense of history that you just can’t manufacture in a newer venue.

What I love about Guston Court is that it hasn’t been polished into something stiff and formal. It still feels like a home, just one with three acres of grounds and enough charm to make every photo look effortlessly good.

The Setting

The grounds here are properly generous, plenty of space for a marquee or tipi, room for your caterers to do their thing, and enough green space around you that it never feels cramped, even with a full guest list dancing the night away. Inside, you’ve got cosy reception rooms with those log burners for when the evening cools down, and there’s even a four-poster bed in one of the guest rooms if you fancy a proper fairy tale night’s sleep.

Guests can stay on-site too, which changes the whole feel of the weekend. I shot a wedding here where the couple and a few close friends stayed in the country house for three nights before the big day, and it completely changed the atmosphere, everyone was relaxed, everyone felt part of it, and there was none of that rushed, clock-watching energy you sometimes get when everyone’s driving in from different directions on the morning itself.

Why I Love Photographing Here

As a Kent wedding photographer who likes to keep things natural and unposed, Guston Court gives me loads to work with. The grounds are brilliant for golden hour portraits, especially with that warm evening light rolling across the lawns once the rain clears (and in Kent, let’s be honest, there’s usually a bit of rain to contend with at some point).

I photographed a tipi wedding here for Zoe and Bart, and even with some wet weather earlier in the day, the light in the evening turned glorious and gave us some of my favourite portraits of the year. The tipi marquee itself is a brilliant blank canvas too, couples can dress it however suits their style, whether that’s rustic and relaxed or dressed up and dramatic.

Inside the country house, the natural window light in the getting-ready rooms is lovely and soft, perfect for those quiet, candid prep shots before the day gets going. And with geese wandering the grounds and genuinely characterful corners everywhere you look, there’s always something a little unexpected to capture.

The Practical Bits

Style: 16th century country house with three acres of grounds
Location: just outside Sandwich, Kent
Accommodation: on-site country house stays available
Flexible ceremony space: grounds suited to marquees and tipis
Character features: log burning stoves, four-poster bedroom, traditional country charm

Final Thoughts

Guston Court is the kind of venue that rewards couples who want their wedding to feel personal rather than production-line, a real home, a generous garden, and enough flexibility to make the day genuinely yours. If you’re getting married there, I’d love to be part of it.

Curious what a real Guston Court wedding looks like through the lens? Have a look at Zoe and Bart’s wedding day for the full story, or get in touch to see if I’m free on your date.